Project
Project
Project
Increasing patron engagement and support for a wider range of creators on Patreon
Increasing patron engagement and support for a wider range of creators on Patreon
Increasing patron engagement and support for a wider range of creators on Patreon
Workflow
Workflow
Generative Research
Generative Research
Synthesis
Synthesis
Rapid Ideation
Rapid Ideation
Wireframes
Wireframes
Hi-fidelity prototype
Hi-fidelity prototype
Usability test
Usability test
Team
Team
Kevin Kovacs
Kevin Kovacs
Pierre Leen
Pierre Leen
Time
2024
2024
5 weeks
5 weeks
Product
Product
Patreon
Patreon
[Memorisely UX/UI Bootcamp Project]
[Memorisely UX/UI Bootcamp Project]
Business plan
The primary goal is to enhance the discoverability of creatives on Patreon, thereby increasing patron engagement and support for a wider range of creators. This improvement should lead to increased patronage, higher creator satisfaction, and overall growth in the platform’s user base and revenue.
Tasks
Research, ideate and redesign the Patreon "Find creators" experience to make it more engaging, personalized, and effective in connecting patrons with creatives that match their interests.
Tools
User Research
User Research
User Research
Our user research phase began with a series of in-depth research interviews aimed at understanding the needs, behaviors, and pain points of our target users. These interviews provided valuable insights that informed the subsequent stages of our design process.
Our user research phase began with a series of in-depth research interviews aimed at understanding the needs, behaviors, and pain points of our target users. These interviews provided valuable insights that informed the subsequent stages of our design process.
Interview Questions
What type of content do your preferred creators produce?
Please talk me through the steps you take when searching for creators online?
Which platform are you using to follow creators online?
What devices do you normally use to follow creators online?
Have you ever used Patreon to support creators online?
If yes:
How do you search for or find new creators on Patreon?
How do you find the process of finding new creators?
If no:
What specific features or benefits would encourage you to support creators on a platform like Patreon?
Our user research aimed to understand both current Patreon users and individuals who have never used the platform. This approach allowed us to capture a wide range of perspectives and insights.
Our user research aimed to understand both current Patreon users and individuals who have never used the platform. This approach allowed us to capture a wide range of perspectives and insights.
Our user research aimed to understand both current Patreon users and individuals who have never used the platform. This approach allowed us to capture a wide range of perspectives and insights.
Synthesis
Synthesis
Synthesis
To efficiently synthesise the insights gathered from our user research interviews, we used Artificial Intelligence to assist in identifying key themes and patterns. By inputting the transcriptions from users, ChatGPT helped us quickly extract the main points and recurring topics from interviews. This allowed us to identify common user needs and pain points.
To efficiently synthesise the insights gathered from our user research interviews, we used Artificial Intelligence to assist in identifying key themes and patterns. By inputting the transcriptions from users, ChatGPT helped us quickly extract the main points and recurring topics from interviews. This allowed us to identify common user needs and pain points.
Prompts
After conducting user interviews, we syntheszied the data by identifying and grouping the main patterns and trends into key areas. This method allowed us to focus on the most relevant and recurring themes that emerged from the user feedback. The five departments we identified were:
Confusion about the Categories: Many users expressed difficulty in understanding and navigating the various categories on the platform.
Users Rarely Using the Actual Platform: A significant number of users reported that they infrequently logged into Patreon, indicating potential engagement issues.
Becoming Aware of New Creators: Insights revealed that discovering new creators was a common challenge for users.
Incentives to Pay on Patreon: Users highlighted the need for clearer and more compelling incentives to support creators financially.
This categorization led us to key learnings:
Discovery of Creators: Interviewees were more likely to find a creator on another free platform like YouTube or Instagram and then visit their Patreon, rather than discovering someone directly on Patreon.
Support Motivation: Interviewees were more likely to support a creator on Patreon if they received some benefit or early access to content.
Key Insights:
Primary Insight
Patreon users not engaging with the platform much
Secondary Insight
Categories are confusing
Problem Statement
Problem Statement
Patreon’s existing discovery flow is confusing, hindering users from finding new creators to follow. The paywall, coupled with a lack of preview content, makes it difficult for users to subscribe to new creators. As a result, creators miss out on followers, and Patreon loses potential revenue.
Patreon’s existing discovery flow is confusing, hindering users from finding new creators to follow. The paywall, coupled with a lack of preview content, makes it difficult for users to subscribe to new creators. As a result, creators miss out on followers, and Patreon loses potential revenue.
Usability Audit
Usability Audit
We conducted a usability audit of the product with the goal of understanding the pain points of the existing experience. This audit involved a thorough evaluation of the platform's interface and user interactions to identify areas where users encounter difficulties or frustrations.
Ideation
Ideation
Ideation
In the ideation phase, we employed common ideation techniques such as sketching and Crazy 8s to generate ideas for enhancing the user experience. These methods allowed us to rapidly brainstorm and visualize a wide range of concepts. Additionally, we conducted a competitor analysis and took inspiration from features of several different companies recognizing their effective engagement strategies. Afterwards, we created low-fidelity wireframes to visualize our findings and ideas, enabling us to iteratively refine our solutions and ensure they effectively addressed the identified pain points.
In the ideation phase, we employed common ideation techniques such as sketching and Crazy 8s to generate ideas for enhancing the user experience. These methods allowed us to rapidly brainstorm and visualize a wide range of concepts. Additionally, we conducted a competitor analysis and took inspiration from features of several different companies recognizing their effective engagement strategies. Afterwards, we created low-fidelity wireframes to visualize our findings and ideas, enabling us to iteratively refine our solutions and ensure they effectively addressed the identified pain points.
Components
Components
Components
we created UI components to bring our design solutions to life. While some components remained the same as those on the original Patreon site, we focused on developing custom cards for the creators, featuring a dynamic hover effect.
we created UI components to bring our design solutions to life. While some components remained the same as those on the original Patreon site, we focused on developing custom cards for the creators, featuring a dynamic hover effect.
Choose your membership
Supporter
$1 / month (plus VAT)
Join
Every dollar counts, and your support is greatly appreciated. You'll get some sneak previews and notes about current video projects. You may also occasionally get discount codes for software or hardware.
Member
$3 / month (plus VAT)
Join
Not only are you a proud supported of Hugh Hurley, but you are also now a proper member. You have access to even more exclusive content and to our exclusive Discord server for personalized support.
General support
Discord access
YOU MIGHT LIKE
Supporter
$1 / month (plus VAT)
Join
You can show all your friends that you’re a proud supporter of Hugh Hurley! Not bad eh, eh? You also have access to some exclusive content.
General support
Exclusive content
Discord access
Join
Hugh Hurley
Crafting soulful melodies
221 posts
Join
Calvin Hodge
Blending beats and harmonies
317 posts
Join
Axel Clayton
Sculpting soundscapes
117 posts
Join
Uriel Mathews
Composing musical journeys
147 posts
Join
Danielle Prince
Weaving rhythms and notes
98 posts
Hugh Hurley
Crafting soulful melodies
221 posts
Calvin Hodge
Blending beats and harmonies
317 posts
Axel Clayton
Sculpting soundscapes
117 posts
Uriel Mathews
Composing musical journeys
147 posts
Danielle Prince
Weaving rhythms and notes
98 posts
Podcast
Podcast
Art
Art
Music
Music
Games
Games
Photography
Photography
Writing
Writing
Video
Video
See more suggestions
Join for free
Join
Youtube
Twitch
The Solution
Our final prototype redesigns the discovery flow, enabling users to see user-specific recommendations, Patreon’s selections and popular Creators. This replaces the previous UI which showed no suggestions by default.
From there, they can filter those categories by the type of content they want to see (i.e Podcasts, Music), where before those buttons had just served to enter the term into the search bar.
User Testing
Through the usability testing process, we gained several valuable insights. Here are the key learnings:
Content Preview Value: The inclusion of preview videos was well-received by users, as they provided valuable insights into the creators' content. This reinforced the effectiveness of offering users a glimpse of what to expect, which can enhance their decision-making and overall experience.
Media in Information Sections: Adding images or videos to the About section was identified as a way to enrich the user experience. This suggestion emphasized the value of visual content in keeping users engaged and informed without needing to leave the platform for additional information.
Expanded Browsing Options: Users expressed a need for more browsing options beyond the “Recommended”, “Popular this week” and “Patreon’s picks” sections. This feedback underlined the importance of providing diverse discovery options, ensuring users can easily explore a wide range of creators
Learnings
What went well
We feel the filtering and new categories present relatively simple implementations that provide big improvements on the existing capabilities
The video-preview content borrows from Netflix’s compelling product, which we think will improve subscription rates for Creators
What could be improved
Our interviews and research suggest that Patreon users do not use this product to search for new Creators (rather they come to Patreon because of a Creator they engage with off-platform)
As such we question how much uplift Patreon would see by optimizing this part of their flow
Business plan
The primary goal is to enhance the discoverability of creatives on Patreon, thereby increasing patron engagement and support for a wider range of creators. This improvement should lead to increased patronage, higher creator satisfaction, and overall growth in the platform’s user base and revenue.
The primary goal is to enhance the discoverability of creatives on Patreon, thereby increasing patron engagement and support for a wider range of creators. This improvement should lead to increased patronage, higher creator satisfaction, and overall growth in the platform’s user base and revenue.
Tasks
Research, ideate and redesign the Patreon "Find creators" experience to make it more engaging, personalized, and effective in connecting patrons with creatives that match their interests.
Tools
Wireframes
Choose your membership
Supporter
$1 / month (plus VAT)
Join
Every dollar counts, and your support is greatly appreciated. You'll get some sneak previews and notes about current video projects. You may also occasionally get discount codes for software or hardware.
Member
$3 / month (plus VAT)
Join
Not only are you a proud supported of Hugh Hurley, but you are also now a proper member. You have access to even more exclusive content and to our exclusive Discord server for personalized support.
General support
Discord access
YOU MIGHT LIKE
Supporter
$1 / month (plus VAT)
Join
You can show all your friends that you’re a proud supporter of Hugh Hurley! Not bad eh, eh? You also have access to some exclusive content.
General support
Exclusive content
Discord access
Join
Join
Hugh Hurley
Crafting soulful melodies
221 posts
Join
Join
Calvin Hodge
Blending beats and harmonies
317 posts
Join
Join
Axel Clayton
Sculpting soundscapes
117 posts
Join
Join
Uriel Mathews
Composing musical journeys
147 posts
Join
Join
Danielle Prince
Weaving rhythms and notes
98 posts
Hugh Hurley
Crafting soulful melodies
221 posts
Calvin Hodge
Blending beats and harmonies
317 posts
Axel Clayton
Sculpting soundscapes
117 posts
Uriel Mathews
Composing musical journeys
147 posts
Danielle Prince
Weaving rhythms and notes
98 posts
Join
Join
Hugh Hurley
Crafting soulful melodies
221 posts
Join
Join
Calvin Hodge
Blending beats and harmonies
317 posts
Join
Join
Axel Clayton
Sculpting soundscapes
117 posts
Join
Join
Uriel Mathews
Composing musical journeys
147 posts
Join
Join
Danielle Prince
Weaving rhythms and notes
98 posts
Hugh Hurley
Crafting soulful melodies
221 posts
Calvin Hodge
Blending beats and harmonies
317 posts
Axel Clayton
Sculpting soundscapes
117 posts
Uriel Mathews
Composing musical journeys
147 posts
Danielle Prince
Weaving rhythms and notes
98 posts
See more suggestions
Join for free
Join
Youtube
Twitch
The Solution
Our final prototype redesigns the discovery flow, enabling users to see user-specific recommendations, Patreon’s selections and popular Creators. This replaces the previous UI which showed no suggestions by default.
From there, they can filter those categories by the type of content they want to see (i.e Podcasts, Music), where before those buttons had just served to enter the term into the search bar.
Our final prototype redesigns the discovery flow, enabling users to see user-specific recommendations, Patreon’s selections and popular Creators. This replaces the previous UI which showed no suggestions by default.
From there, they can filter those categories by the type of content they want to see (i.e Podcasts, Music), where before those buttons had just served to enter the term into the search bar.
Home
About
Resume
Home
About
Resume
Workflow
User Research
Synthesis
Rapid Ideation
Wireframes
Hi-fi Prototypes
Usability Test
Team
Kevin Kovacs
Pierre Leen
After conducting user interviews, we syntheszied the data by identifying and grouping the main patterns and trends into key areas. This method allowed us to focus on the most relevant and recurring themes that emerged from the user feedback. The five departments we identified were:
Confusion about the Categories: Many users expressed difficulty in understanding and navigating the various categories on the platform.
Users Rarely Using the Actual Platform: A significant number of users reported that they infrequently logged into Patreon, indicating potential engagement issues.
Becoming Aware of New Creators: Insights revealed that discovering new creators was a common challenge for users.
Incentives to Pay on Patreon: Users highlighted the need for clearer and more compelling incentives to support creators financially.
This categorization led us to key learnings:
Discovery of Creators: Interviewees were more likely to find a creator on another free platform like YouTube or Instagram and then visit their Patreon, rather than discovering someone directly on Patreon.
Support Motivation: Interviewees were more likely to support a creator on Patreon if they received some benefit or early access to content.
Key Insights:
Primary Insight
Patreon users not engaging with the platform much
Secondary Insight
Categories are confusing
Choose your membership
Member
$3 / month (plus VAT)
Join
Not only are you a proud supported of Hugh Hurley, but you are also now a proper member. You have access to even more exclusive content and to our exclusive Discord server for personalized support.
General support
Discord access
YOU MIGHT LIKE
See more suggestions
Join for free
Join
Youtube
Twitch
User Testing
Through the usability testing process, we gained several valuable insights. Here are the key learnings:
Content Preview Value: The inclusion of preview videos was well-received by users, as they provided valuable insights into the creators' content. This reinforced the effectiveness of offering users a glimpse of what to expect, which can enhance their decision-making and overall experience.
Media in Information Sections: Adding images or videos to the About section was identified as a way to enrich the user experience. This suggestion emphasized the value of visual content in keeping users engaged and informed without needing to leave the platform for additional information.
Expanded Browsing Options: Users expressed a need for more browsing options beyond the “Recommended”, “Popular this week” and “Patreon’s picks” sections. This feedback underlined the importance of providing diverse discovery options, ensuring users can easily explore a wide range of creators
Learnings
What went well
We feel the filtering and new categories present relatively simple implementations that provide big improvements on the existing capabilities
The video-preview content borrows from Netflix’s compelling product, which we think will improve subscription rates for Creators
What could be improved
Our interviews and research suggest that Patreon users do not use this product to search for new Creators (rather they come to Patreon because of a Creator they engage with off-platform)
As such we question how much uplift Patreon would see by optimizing this part of their flow